ostensible
outwardly appearing as such; professed; pretended: an ostensible cheerfulness concealing sadness.
apparent, evident, or conspicuous: the ostensible truth of their theories.
Origin of ostensible
1Other words from ostensible
- os·ten·si·bly, adverb
- non·os·ten·si·ble, adjective
- non·os·ten·si·bly, adverb
- un·os·ten·si·ble, adjective
- un·os·ten·si·bly, adverb
Words that may be confused with ostensible
- ostensible , ostensive
Words Nearby ostensible
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use ostensible in a sentence
Days after polishing off this ostensible treat, I’m still brushing the bad taste out of my mouth.
Along with its headquarters employees, that alone would exceed the PPP’s ostensible 500-employee cap.
This Company Got a $10 Million PPP Loan, Then Closed Its Plant and Moved Manufacturing Jobs to Mexico | by Lydia DePillis | June 30, 2021 | ProPublicaEven more remarkably, Florida’s renewed stance against both ostensible communism and critical race theory in schools comes with a new state policy of surveying college students and faculty for their opinions on their schools’ ideological makeup.
Florida Guv’s School Crackdown Is a Red Scare Throwback | Kelly Weill | June 24, 2021 | The Daily BeastWhile the motivation to improve election security is spurious, the ostensible goal isn’t — everyone would agree that a secure election is important for democracy.
Republicans Say They Care About Election Fraud. Here’s How They Could Actually Prevent It. | Kaleigh Rogers | April 20, 2021 | FiveThirtyEightDespite the ostensible democratic reforms in the country in recent years, the military commander-in-chief retained powerful influence, including command of the defense, border affairs and home affairs ministries, whose reach is pervasive.
How Myanmar's Fragile Push for Democracy Collapsed in a Military Coup | Amy Gunia | February 1, 2021 | Time
And why would its ostensible spokesperson refuse to answer yes/no questions about them?
How Canadian Oilmen Pinkwash the Keystone Pipeline | Jay Michaelson | December 28, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTA trove of Bush-era emails that had been quote-unquote-lost resurfaced in 2009, the victim of an ostensible act of mislabeling.
Paging Rose Mary Woods: Obama’s Unbelievable Missing IRS Emails | James Poulos | June 18, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTThe ostensible middle-ground approach, to “provide weapons an training” to the Ukrainians got about 25 perent of the vote.
Europe, Stunned by Reckless Russia, Mistrusts Feckless Ukrainian Leaders | James Kirchick | March 24, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTOblivious self-entitlement is now so widespread and suitable for mockery that the ostensible cure has begun to follow in its wake.
Our Bad Romance Obsession Is the Ultimate First World Problem | James Poulos | January 2, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTIt would seem that for all of its ostensible lack of vim and vigor, Israel Media Watch is a very effective organization.
The Dubious Successes of Israel's Media Watch | Elisheva Goldberg | September 11, 2013 | THE DAILY BEASTThe ostensible reason for this was, that in the Emperor's opinion he had not pressed the siege of Saragossa.
Napoleon's Marshals | R. P. Dunn-PattisonAbout 100,000 members were enrolled in the union, the ostensible aim of which was the defence of the working manʼs interests.
The Philippine Islands | John ForemanThe conflagration of Rome, attributed by Nero to the Christians, which was the ostensible cause of the first persecution.
The Every Day Book of History and Chronology | Joel MunsellPeople took up the notion from his wild appearance, and because he had no ostensible means of living.
Elster's Folly | Mrs. Henry WoodNo time should be lost, therefore return her Epistle with the aforesaid ostensible letter.
Private Letters of Edward Gibbon (1753-1794) Volume 1 (of 2) | Edward Gibbon
British Dictionary definitions for ostensible
/ (ɒˈstɛnsɪbəl) /
apparent; seeming
pretended
Origin of ostensible
1Derived forms of ostensible
- ostensibility, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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